Interface facility

ABSTRACT

An interface facility has a first facility element connected to an ocular, a device case configured to connect to a smart device, a second facility element connected to the device case, the first and second facility elements being configured to connect to each other in a connected condition and to detach from each other, the first facility element being registered with a first optical axis associated with the ocular, the second facility element being registered with a second optical axis associated with the camera, the first and second optical axes being registered with each other when the first and second facility elements are in the connected condition, such that the camera records images generated by the ocular. The first and second facility elements may comprise a bayonet mount.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/505,582 filed on Jul. 8, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/698,319 filed on Jul. 16, 2018,entitled “INTEGRAL EYEPIECE ADAPTER,” each of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety for all that is taught anddisclosed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the attachment of external optics tomobile phones and, more particularly, to a phone case and eyepiecesystem that enables an optical device, such as binoculars, telescopes,and microscopes to be attached to a mobile phone such that the mobilephone's camera can take pictures through the lenses of the opticaldevice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile phone cameras are widely used for photography, partially becausethe quality of their cameras continues to improve. However, mobile phonecameras still have limitations compared to conventional DSLR camerasbecause of the limited quantities and types of lenses that are built-into existing mobile phone cameras. Add-on external lenses that mimic thecapabilities of interchangeable lenses for DSLR cameras have becomeincreasingly popular. Some versions clip on an external lens to theexterior of the mobile phone, and others rely on a bayonet-style mountto connect an external lens to a dedicated mobile phone case.

Bayonet-style mounts are used to attach interchangeable lenses to modernDSLR cameras because the bayonet mechanism precisely aligns mechanicaland electrical features between the lens and the camera body.Bayonet-style mounts usually have three to four tabs around the base ofthe lens that are received by recesses in the lens mounting plate on thefront of the camera body. The tabs are often identified in some way toensure that the lens is only inserted in one orientation, often bymaking one tab a different size or by marking a section of the lens anda section of the camera body. Once the tabs are inserted into therecesses, the lens is fastened by rotating the lens until the lens islocked into place. The lens is retained in place by a spring-loaded pin,which is operated to remove the lens.

There is also a desire to connect mobile phones to optical devices sothe mobile phone's camera can take pictures through the optical device.Various systems have been developed that enable a mobile phone to beattached to the eyepiece of binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, andother optical devices.

Existing eyepiece designs allow extension of the eyecup according touser preference for eye relief. This function is also desirable whentaking pictures with a mobile phone camera because it allowsoptimization of the axial distance between the mobile phone camera andthe eyepiece lens. However, the conventional method for extendingeyecups is via rotation of the eyecup. This approach is suitable when auser is simply pressing the eyecup against their face, but a mobilephone hanging off to one side of the eyecup either rotates the eyecupfurther than desired or rotates it back to a retracted state.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved interface facility thatincludes a telescoping eyecup with a locking feature that preventsundesirable axial movements of the eyecup. In this regard, the variousembodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least someof these needs. In this respect, the interface facility according to thepresent invention substantially departs from the conventional conceptsand designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of enabling the user to optimize theaxial distance between the mobile phone camera and the eyepiece lens andto releasably secure the eyecup in the desired axial position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved interface facility, andovercomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the priorart. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which willbe described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improvedinterface facility with multiple aiming marks that has all theadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.

To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionessentially comprises a first facility element connected to an ocular, adevice case configured to connect to a smart device, a second facilityelement connected to the device case, the first and second facilityelements being configured to connect to each other in a connectedcondition and to detach from each other, the first facility elementbeing registered with a first optical axis associated with the ocular,the second facility element being registered with a second optical axisassociated with the camera, the first and second optical axes beingregistered with each other when the first and second facility elementsare in the connected condition, such that the camera records imagesgenerated by the ocular. The first and second facility elements maycomprise a bayonet mount. There are, of course, additional features ofthe invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject matter of the claims attached.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of theinterface facility constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention attached to an optic.

FIG. 2 is a front exploded view of the current embodiment of the eyecupassembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an isometric side sectional view of the current embodiment ofthe interface facility of FIG. 1 with the eyecup assembly releasablysecured to the bayonet mount on the case and the eyecup assemblyreleasably locked in the intermediate extension axial position.

FIG. 4 is an isometric side sectional view of the current embodiment ofthe interface facility of FIG. 1 with the eyecup assembly releasablysecured to the bayonet mount on the case and the eyecup assemblyreleasably locked in the least extension axial position.

FIG. 5 is an isometric side sectional view of the current embodiment ofthe interface facility of FIG. 1 with the eyecup assembly in the lockedposition on the bayonet mount on the case and the eyecup assemblyreleasably locked in the maximum extension axial position.

FIG. 6 is an isometric side sectional view of the current embodiment ofthe interface facility of FIG. 1 with the eyecup assembly in thereleased position on the bayonet mount on the case and the eyecupassembly releasably locked in the maximum extension axial position.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of the current embodiment of theinterface facility of FIG. 1 with the eyecup assembly in the lockedposition on the bayonet mount on the case.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the current embodiment of theinterface facility of FIG. 1 with the eyecup assembly in the releasedposition on the bayonet mount on the case.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a first alternative embodiment ofthe interface facility constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the first alternative embodimentof the case of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the first alternative embodimentof FIG. 9 attached to an optic.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a second alternative embodiment of theinterface facility constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the second alternative embodimentof FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a third alternative embodiment ofthe interface facility constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a top sectional view of the third alternative embodiment ofFIG. 14 .

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the interface facility of the present invention isshown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

FIG. 1 illustrates the improved interface facility 10 of the presentinvention. More particularly, the interface facility 10 has a devicecase 12 having a front 14 and defining a rear recess 16. The caseincludes various features, cutouts, and apertures to accommodatefeatures on a mobile phone/smart device (not shown) removably receivedby/connected to the rear recess. These include a camera aperture 18 thatis axially registered with at least one camera aperture (not shown)associated with a camera present on a mobile phone removably received bythe rear recess.

The interface facility 10 also includes an eyecup assembly 20 that isattached to the rear 22 of a housing 24 of an optic/ocular 26. In thecurrent embodiment, the optic is a pair of binoculars, but the optic canalso be any suitable telescopic or microscopic optical device. Theeyecup assembly includes an eyecup 28 that defines a top button aperture30. The button end 32 of a top locking lever 34 protrudes from the topbutton aperture. The eyecup assembly also includes a bayonetreceptacle/first facility element 36 that enables the eyecup assembly tobe releasably secured to the front 14 of the case 12 in a manner to bedescribed subsequently. The optic includes an eyepiece lens 136, and thebayonet receptacle defines an aperture encompassing the eyepiece lens.

FIG. 2 illustrates the improved eyecup assembly 20 of the presentinvention. More particularly, the eyecup assembly 20 has an inner ring38, an outer ring 40 that encircles the inner ring, and the eyecup 28that encircles the outer ring. The inner ring has an exterior 42, aninterior 44, and defines a central bore 46. The inner ring also has afront 48 and a rear 50. The exterior of the inner ring defines aplurality of axial slots 52. Each axial slot has a rounded rear wall 54and a forward scalloped portion 56. Each axial slot includes a rear hole58 and a front hole 60. The rear of the inner ring defines an O-ringgroove 62 that receives an O-ring 64. The interior of the inner ringdefines interior threads 66 that terminate in a rear shoulder 68.

The inner ring 38 releasably secures the eyecup assembly 20 to aneyepiece 70 that extends rearwardly from the rear 22 of the housing 24of the optic 26. This is accomplished by threadedly engaging theinterior threads 66 of the inner ring with exterior threads 72 on theexterior 74 of the eyepiece. The rear shoulder 68 of the inner ringprovides a stop indicating when the inner ring has been screwed on tightto the eyepiece.

The outer ring 40 defines a central bore 76 that receives the inner ring38. The outer ring also has an exterior 78, an interior 80, a front 82,and a rear 84. The outer ring defines a top axial slot 86 and an opposedbottom axial slot 88. The top locking lever 34 is received in the topaxial slot, and a bottom locking lever 90 is received in the bottomaxial slot. The rear of the outer ring includes the bayonet receptacle36 that defines a plurality of recesses 92.

The eyecup 28 defines a central bore 94 that receives the outer ring 40.The eyecup also has an exterior 96, an interior 98, a front 100, and arear 102. The eyecup defines the top button aperture 30 and an opposedbottom button aperture 104. The button end 32 of the top locking lever34 protrudes through the top button aperture. The button end 106 (shownin FIG. 3 ) of the bottom locking lever 90 protrudes through the bottombutton aperture.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the improved interface facility 10 of the presentinvention. More particularly, the eyecup assembly 20 has three positionsof axial adjustment relative to the eyepiece 70 of the optic 26, whichmakes the eyecup assembly movable with respect to the optic. FIG. 3shows the eyecup assembly releasably locked in the intermediateextension axial position. FIG. 4 shows the eyecup assembly releasablylocked in the least extension/retracted axial position. FIG. 5 shows theeyecup assembly releasably locked in the maximum extension axialposition. The top locking lever 34 and bottom locking lever 90 arepivotally mounted on pivot pins 108, 110 within the top axial slot 86and the bottom axial slot 88. The top locking lever and bottom lockinglever each have a locking end 112, 114 opposed to their button ends 32,106. In the current embodiment, the top and bottom locking levers arespring biased to urge their locking ends inwards and their button endsoutwards. In FIGS. 3-5 , the dashed lines depict the top and bottomlocking levers in their actuated positions, which enables the eyecupassembly to transition between the three positions of axial adjustmentshown. The top and bottom locking levers serve as a latch having anengaged position and a disengaged position, and in which the eyecupassembly is axially movable with respect to the optic when in thedisengaged position. Furthermore, the eyecup assembly has a plurality ofaxial positions ranging from a retracted position and an extendedposition. In addition, the eyecup assembly includes a latch facility(the top and bottom locking levers) that prevent rotation of the eyecupassembly except when in the retracted position.

In the intermediate extension axial position, the locking ends 112, 114of the top and bottom locking levers 34, 90 are releasably received intwo opposed front holes 60. In the least extension axial position, thelocking ends of the top and bottom locking levers escape from the axialslots 52 and engage two opposed forward scalloped portions 56. Contactbetween the O-ring 64 and the underside of the rear 84 of the outer ring40 limits forward travel of the locking ends of the top and bottomlocking levers. Rotation of the outer ring 40 relative to the inner ring38 is only permitted when the locking ends of the top and bottom lockinglevers have escaped from the axial slots. The forward scalloped portionsprovide a detent function to denote when the locking ends of the top andbottom locking levers have transitioned from one pair of opposed forwardscalloped portions to an adjacent pair of opposed forward scallopedportions. It should be appreciated that the terminology “top and bottomlocking levers” is intended merely to orient the reader relative to thedrawings, and is not intended to be limiting given that the outer ringcan be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to any desired extent whenthe locking ends of the top and bottom locking levers have escaped fromthe axial slots in the least extension axial position. In the maximumextension axial position, the locking ends of the top and bottom lockinglevers are releasably received in two opposed rear holes 58. The rearwalls 54 of the axial slots limit rearward travel of the locking ends ofthe top and bottom locking levers within the axial slots.

FIGS. 3-5 & 7 illustrate the improved interface facility 10 of thepresent invention with the eyecup assembly 20 in the locked position onthe front 14 of the case 12. FIGS. 6 & 8 illustrate the improvedinterface facility 10 of the present invention with the eyecup assembly20 in the released position on the front 14 of the case 12. Moreparticularly, the front of the case includes a bayonet insert/secondfacility element 116 and defines a circular recess 118. The case has aback panel 130 coextensive with the mobile phone, the back panel has aninner surface 132 overlaying the mobile phone, and an opposed outersurface 134, the inner and other surfaces each defining respectiveplanes, the bayonet insert being entirely between the respective planessuch that the bayonet insert does not protrude from the back panel oranother portion of the case. When the bayonet receptacle 36 receives thebayonet insert 116 to releasably secure the eyecup assembly to the frontof the case via a bayonet mount, the circular recess receives the rear84 of the outer ring 40 and the rear 102 of the eyecup 28. Thus, thebayonet receptacle defines an aperture, and the bayonet insert includesa protrusion received in the aperture when the bayonet receptacle andbayonet insert are connected. It should be appreciated that the bayonetreceptacle is registered with a first optical axis 126 associated withthe optic, and the bayonet insert is registered with a second opticalaxis 128 associated with the camera. Furthermore, the first and secondoptical axes are registered with each other when the bayonet receptacleand the bayonet insert are in the connected condition, such that thecamera records images generated by the optic. In addition, each of thebayonet receptacle and the bayonet insert includes an arcuate elementconcentric with the respective optical axis with which the bayonetreceptacle and the bayonet insert are registered. In the currentembodiment, the eyecup is made of an elastomeric material that iscompressed against the front of the case by the rear of the outer ringwithin the circular recess and provides frictional resistance torotation of the eyecup assembly relative to the front of the case. Thus,the optic includes a resilient rear surface element configured tocompressively contact the bayonet receptacle when in the connectedcondition. Furthermore, the case defines a recessed annular channel(circular recess 118) encompassing the bayonet insert and configured toreceive a rear portion of the optic. The bayonet insert includes aplurality of tabs 120 that are radially extending lugs sized to slideover corresponding step downs 122 defined by the bayonet receptacle andto be closely received by recesses/lug passages 92 defined by thebayonet receptacle and associated with the lugs. The aperture on thebayonet receptacle that encompasses the eyepiece lens 136 includes acircular opening with a plurality of peripheral opening extensions(recesses 92) configured to receive the plurality of lugs on the bayonetinsert. The step downs provide frictional resistance to rotation of theeyecup assembly relative to the front of the case to releasably lockedthe eyecup assembly into a specified orientation relative to the cameraaperture 18 defined by the case. The bayonet insert, which is made ofmetal and is the only metal part in the current embodiment, isreinforced by a reinforcement 124, which is made of plastic and is partof the case in the current embodiment. In the current embodiment, thebayonet receptacle has eight step downs and recesses, and the bayonetinsert has four tabs.

The user can depress the button ends 32, 106 on the top and bottomlocking levers 34, 90 to adjust the axial distance between the eyepiece70 and the camera aperture on the mobile phone (not shown) releasablyreceived in the rear recess 16 of the case 12 without having to worryabout causing inadvertent rotation of the eyepiece 70 relative to thecase. Rotation of the outer ring 40 relative to the inner ring 38 willonly occur if the user first adjusts the top and bottom locking levers34, 90 to the least extension axial position to free the locking ends112, 114 from the axial slots 52 and subsequently supplies enoughrotational force to transition the locking ends from one pair of opposedforward scalloped portions 56 to an adjacent pair of opposed forwardscalloped portions.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate a first alternative embodiment of the improvedinterface facility 200 of the present invention. More particularly, theinterface facility 200 has a case 212 having a front 214 and defining arear recess 216. The case includes various features, cutouts, andapertures to accommodate features on a mobile phone (not shown)removably received by the rear recess. These include a camera aperture218 that is axially registered with at least one camera aperture (notshown) present on a mobile phone removably received by the rear recess.

The interface facility 200 also includes an eyecup assembly 220 that isattached to the rear 222 of a housing 224 of an optic 226. In thecurrent embodiment, the optic is a pair of binoculars, but the optic canalso be any suitable telescopic or microscopic optical device. Theeyecup assembly includes an eyecup 228 having a rear 230 that defines aplurality of recesses 232. A plurality of magnets 234 are capturedwithin the rear of the eyecup between the recesses. The magnets enablethe eyecup assembly to be releasably secured to the front 214 of thecase 212 in a manner to be described subsequently.

The front 214 of the case 212 defines a plurality of recesses 236, andthe rear recess of the case 216 defines a plurality of pockets 238 thatare axially registered with the recesses. Each pocket receives a magnet240. The eyecup assembly 220 is releasably secured to the front of thecase by aligning magnets 234 in the eyecup 228 with the magnets in thecase. Magnetic attraction between the two sets of magnets serves to holdthe eyecup assembly on the front of the case. The recesses 232 on theeyecup and the recesses 236 on the front of the case are offset to serveas overlapping features to prevent rotation of the eyecup assemblyrelative to the case. It should be appreciated that the eyecup assembly220 can include the features of the eyecup assembly 20 to enable theeyecup assembly 220 to have the same three positions of axial adjustmentrelative to the eyepiece 242 of the optic 226 as eyecup assembly 20.Furthermore, mechanical securing features can also be employed inaddition to the magnetic attraction between the two sets of magnets.

FIGS. 12 & 13 illustrate a second alternative embodiment of the improvedinterface facility 300 of the present invention. More particularly, theinterface facility 300 has a case 312 having a front 314 that defines acamera aperture 336. The front of the case includes a bayonet insert 316and defines a circular recess 318. The circular recess is a recessedannular channel that extends off a peripheral edge of the case such thata mobile phone with a camera close to the device edge may be employedwith an optic having a larger radius. The bayonet insert includes aplurality of tabs 320. A bayonet adapter 322 includes a bayonetreceptacle 324 that receives the bayonet insert to releasably secure thebayonet adapter to the front of the case. The bayonet adapter is shownin the unlocked position in FIG. 12 and the locked position in FIG. 13 .The tabs are sized to slide over corresponding step downs 326 defined bythe bayonet receptacle and to be closely received by recesses 328defined by the bayonet receptacle. The step downs provide frictionalresistance to rotation of bayonet adapter relative to the front of thecase to releasably lock the bayonet adapter into a specified orientationrelative to the camera aperture defined by the case. In the currentembodiment, the bayonet receptacle has 6 step downs and recesses, andthe bayonet insert has 5 tabs.

The bayonet adapter 322 also includes a bayonet insert 330 having aplurality of tabs 332. The bayonet receptacle 36 receives the bayonetinsert to releasably secure the eyecup assembly to the bayonet adapter,which in turn releasably secures the eyecup assembly to the front 314 ofthe case 312. The circular recess 318 receives the rear 84 of the outerring 40 and the rear 102 of the eyecup 28. In the current embodiment,the bayonet insert has eight tabs. It should be appreciated theinterface facility 300 is intended for use where the diameter of thebayonet insert is too large to not extend beyond the periphery of thecase if the smartphone camera 334 received in the case is located nearan edge of the case. The bayonet insert 316 and bayonet receptacle 324could be replaced with a screw on mount or could utilize a suitablepeel-and stick or glued attachment method.

FIGS. 14 & 15 illustrate a third alternative embodiment of the improvedinterface facility 400 of the present invention. More particularly, theinterface facility 400 has a case 412 having a front 414. The caseincludes a spring button latch 416 that is shown in the unlockedposition in solid lines in FIG. 15 and in the locked position in dashedlines in FIG. 15 . The front of the case defines a circular recess 418that includes a plurality of notches 420. The front of the case alsodefines a camera aperture 422. The spring button latch is mounted on anupper guide rod 424 and a lower guide rod 426 so the spring button latchwill reciprocate laterally across the front of the case. An upper coilspring 428 and a lower coil spring 430 bias the spring button latchoutwards relative to the periphery of the case to the locked position.The spring button latch includes a U-shaped camera notch 432 on one endso the latch will not obstruct a smartphone camera received by the case.The spring button latch includes a finger insert 446 on an opposed endso a user can overcome the upper and lower coil springs to translate thespring button latch to the unlocked position.

The spring button latch 416 releasably secures an eyecup 434 having arear 436 to the front 414 of the case 412. The notches 420 closelyreceive downward protrusions 438 on the rear of the eyecup to preventrotation of the eyecup relative to the front of the case. An undercut440 defined by the front of the case is in communication with thecircular recess 418. A bottom portion 442 of the eyecup is releasablycaptured by the undercut. The spring button latch includes an undercut444 that also releasably captures the bottom portion of the eyecup whenthe spring button latch is in the locked position. When the springbutton latch is in the locked position, the undercuts prevent the bottomportion of the eyecup from disengaging from the circular recess. Whenthe spring button latch is held by the user in the unlocked position,the spring button latch undercut 444 is disengaged from the bottomportion of the eyecup, and the user can disengage the bottom portion ofthe eyecup from the case undercut 440.

While current embodiments of an interface facility have been describedin detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variationsthereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is tobe realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts ofthe invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readilyapparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalentrelationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in thespecification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. An interface facility for connecting an output optical device and aninput device assembly, the output optical device having including aneyecup assembly, the interface facility comprising: a first facilityelement for the output optical device; a second facility element for theinput device assembly, the second facility element to magneticallyattach to the first facility element; the first and second facilityelements being configured to connect to each other in a connectedcondition and to detach from each other; the first facility elementbeing registered with a first optical axis associated with the outputoptical device; the second facility element being registered with asecond optical axis associated with the input device assembly; and thefirst and second optical axes being registered with each other when thefirst and second facility elements are in the connected condition, forcapturing an image with a camera through a lens of the output opticaldevice.
 2. The interface facility of claim 1, wherein an annular sectionof the eyecup assembly is arranged to magnetically attract to an annularsection of the input device assembly.
 3. The interface facility of claim2, further comprising first magnets captured within the annular sectionof the eyecup assembly and second magnets captured within the annularsection of the input device assembly.
 4. The interface facility of claim1, further comprising magnets captured within a face of the eyecupassembly.
 5. The interface facility of claim 1, wherein one of theeyecup assembly and the input device assembly includes recesses, and theother of the eyecup assembly and the input device assembly includespockets that are axially registerable with the recesses.
 6. Theinterface facility of claim 1, wherein the input device assemblyincludes a mobile device and a body having a first side removablysecured to the mobile device, wherein a surface of the eyecup assemblyis magnetically attracted to a second side of the body.
 7. The interfacefacility of claim 6, wherein the first and second sides of the body areopposite sides of the body.
 8. The interface facility of claim 7,wherein the first side of the body is mechanically secured to the mobiledevice.
 9. The interface facility of claim 1, wherein the output opticaldevice comprises binoculars.
 10. The interface facility of claim 1,wherein one of the first and second facility elements includes recesses,wherein the other of the first and second facility elements includespockets that are axially registered with the recesses.
 11. An apparatus,comprising: an output optical device to magnetically couple to an inputdevice assembly, the output optical device including an eyecup includinga surface magnetically attracted to the input device assembly; whereinthe surface is configured to rotationally time the input device assemblywith the output optical device, maintaining an alignment of an opticalaxis associated with the input device assembly with an optical axis of alens of the output optical device for capturing an image through thelens of the output optical device.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the output optical device includes an eyecup.
 13. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein the output optical device comprises binoculars. 14.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the input device includes a mobiledevice and a body, the body including a first side to releasably coupleto an input optical device and a second side that is different than thefirst side, the second side to magnetically couple to the output opticaldevice.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second side of thebody is opposite the first side of the body.
 16. The apparatus of claim11, further comprising magnets embedded in the surface of the eyecup ora surface of the input device assembly.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the magnets comprise a first set of magnets embedded in one ofthe surface of the eyecup or the surface of the input device assembly;wherein the apparatus further comprises a second set of magnets embeddedin the other of the surface of the eyecup or the surface of the inputdevice assembly.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of thesurface of the eyecup or the surface of the input device assemblydefines recesses and the other of the eyecup or the surface of the inputdevice assembly defines pockets that are axially registerable with therecesses.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means forpreventing rotation of the eyecup relative to the input device assemblywhen the input device assembly is magnetically secured on the eyecup.20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for securing theinput device assembly on the eyecup magnetically and mechanically.